The Gods And You

[Chad]

Being a polytheist, of course, means believing in many gods. Of course, there being so many, it's nigh impossible to honour them all. Which, of the many Brythonic Gods/Goddesses do you feel closest to and honour in particular, and why? Did you choose them? Or did they choose you? Or is it a mixture of both?

[potia]

Rigantona, Brigantia and Maponos and the ones I am closest to that I have Brythonic names for.

Rigantona I also know as Epona and I'm not really sure who chose who. I have a deep love of horses and have had since I was a child so a deity connected with horses was natural for me to learn about and connect with. I feel that she has always gently guided and protected me in my life.

Brigantia who has so many names is again a deity I think I have been aware of since the time I became Pagan as Imbolc has always been linked to her. Again it seemed natural to get to know more about her and to develop a deeper relationship with her.

Maponus I think came to me but again at a time I was looking for a more masculine deity to connect with and yet not one that personified fatherhood as for personal reasons I have issues with that side of masculine deity. I think thinkgs work between us because to me he is the ever young lord of dreams and song. To me he is healer and freind and bringer of erotic and romantic love and passion in my life.

And then there's the being I don't have a brythonic name for and the title I do have for her is comparitively modern but she is a force to be reckoned with in my life. She chose me but only really after I had attracted her attention by praying to her on behalf of another. The title I know her as is Cailleach and to me she is the old one of the land here in Scotland. Old, mysterious, challenging and fierce. She tests and strengthens me.

Those are the ones I am closest to at the moment.

[Chad]

I'm closest to Belen and Taran the most. I feel like Cernwn has been around longer than I thought, and I'm starting to take notice of him as such. I'm trying to build more of a relationship with feminine deities, probably for the same sake you are with masculine ones. It's a different way of approach I've noticed. Maybe, as a man, it'll be more of a challenge. Modron, Braint, Rhiannon, and Arianhrod are the four that I have started having increased interest in learning about.

[potia]

Building a relationship with a deity or spirit is not that much different to building a relationship with a physical individual. You start with some sort of meeting or introduction, you gradually learn more about them as you spend more time with them or focussing your attention on things linked to them, then when you feel relatively secure something shifts and either the relationship fades or gets dramatically stronger. Sometimes the fading bit means you completely drift apart, sometimes it's a temporary thing as the focus changes, when it gets stronger sometimes it feels fantastic and other times it feels scary.

Basically it all takes time and just as with face to face interactions some will develop more quickly than others

[Chad]

That makes sense. Taranis kind of took me by surprise. I'm sure in time, I will develop more connection with goddesses too. Braint is the only one I've made offering to, though. Building relationships with deities like one does with people makes sense.

[mooncrone]

For me, it has been all about Lugh, MacLir, Dagda, Airmid, and since moving to Wales, Rhiannon, Cerridwen, and Arianhrod.
(Also Black Sarah, my family's tradition Matron, and who - or what - I percieve to be GreenMan, and Gaia... along with Lord Ganesha, and Neith, and Anubis, my lady Yemaya, and a few more - which I understand mixes things up, a lot, but I can't help that.)

I do not actively seek them out, they just suddenly start calling to me more loudly than the others, they seem to give me tasks to complete, or they challenge me to become a better version of myself, if that makes sense?

I feel they keep an eye, I feel they do fetch me benefits, I feel I am rewarded. I also feel that to say I know them is overstepping the mark. I am aware I need to be respectful. I am aware they can make life harder for me. I am aware I often do their bidding. I am blessed I have been shown the wonders of this way of life.

[Heron]

Jan 18, 2016 12:25:54 GMT -1 mooncrone said:

For me, it has been all about Lugh, MacLir, Dagda, Airmid, and since moving to Wales, Rhiannon, Cerridwen, and Arianhrod.
(Also Black Sarah, my family's tradition Matron, and who - or what - I percieve to be GreenMan, and Gaia... along with Lord Ganesha, and Neith, and Anubis, my lady Yemaya, and a few more - which I understand mixes things up, a lot, but I can't help that.)

I do not actively seek them out, they just suddenly start calling to me more loudly than the others, they seem to give me tasks to complete, or they challenge me to become a better version of myself, if that makes sense?

I feel they keep an eye, I feel they do fetch me benefits, I feel I am rewarded. I also feel that to say I know them is overstepping the mark. I am aware I need to be respectful. I am aware they can make life harder for me. I am aware I often do their bidding. I am blessed I have been shown the wonders of this way of life.

It would be very interesting to hear more about Black Sarah and her role in your family.

[mooncrone]

Hi Heron,

I grew up with a figure of Black Sarah on the hall stand in our home much like Christians have crosses on their walls. My Gran would place fresh flowers next to her, and light evening candles there in her honour. Her role was as guider and protector, much as some families might choose Hestia or Frigg, instead, for examples. I didn't really understand the true significance of her in my early youth, and tried to hide it from my peers for fear they wouldn't understand... but anyone familiar with the traveling community will know of her.
This website entry kind-of tells it better than I can... gypsyrepresent.wordpress.com/tag/the-black-madonna/

Some folks claim she has connections to the Hindu Kali-Ma, while others say she is more like a version of the Madonna from the Catholic church.

My experience of her is neither... to me, she has always been a constant. A rock. The all-Mother, if you will. An earthly representation of the giver of all life. The most blessed of all wombs. The most sacred of nurturers. She can be kind and merciful to those who try hard and do well. She can be cruel and hard hearted to those who laze about or mess up. It is therefore for me to please her best ways I know how. She was there when I cam to be, and she will be there when I meet my end.
I don't have her icon in my home, but I do have an outdoor shrine dedicated to her in my garden. I sense she prefers to be acknowledged out there, in nature.

I hope this helps answer your enquiry a little. I'm not too clever with words.

[Heron]

Jan 18, 2016 15:42:39 GMT -1 mooncrone said:

Hi Heron,

I grew up with a figure of Black Sarah on the hall stand in our home much like Christians have crosses on their walls. My Gran would place fresh flowers next to her, and light evening candles there in her honour. Her role was as guider and protector, much as some families might choose Hestia or Frigg, instead, for examples. I didn't really understand the true significance of her in my early youth, and tried to hide it from my peers for fear they wouldn't understand... but anyone familiar with the traveling community will know of her.
This website entry kind-of tells it better than I can... gypsyrepresent.wordpress.com/tag/the-black-madonna/

Some folks claim she has connections to the Hindu Kali-Ma, while others say she is more like a version of the Madonna from the Catholic church.

My experience of her is neither... to me, she has always been a constant. A rock. The all-Mother, if you will. An earthly representation of the giver of all life. The most blessed of all wombs. The most sacred of nurturers. She can be kind and merciful to those who try hard and do well. She can be cruel and hard hearted to those who laze about or mess up. It is therefore for me to please her best ways I know how. She was there when I cam to be, and she will be there when I meet my end.
I don't have her icon in my home, but I do have an outdoor shrine dedicated to her in my garden. I sense she prefers to be acknowledged out there, in nature.

I hope this helps answer your enquiry a little. I'm not too clever with words.

Yes indeed Mooncrone, this is very moving. Many thanks for sharing it with us.

[mooncrone]

thank you, you're very welcome.